Compare towns
Effingham vs Lancaster vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Andover has the highest household income ($89k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Effingham | Lancaster | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,135 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Highest 8% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
46±11.6 6% above NH |
| Effingham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.1%±7.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$88,514±$27kHighest 11% below NH |
| Andover and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$366,500±$44kHighest 9% below NH |
| Andover and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121 27% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,211±$190Highest 19% below NH |
| Andover and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 23% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,962Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
45.1%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Andover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.